The NBA’s 65-game rule has claimed quite a few casualties this season. Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić and Detroit Pistons All-NBA candidate Cade Cunningham are among the biggest names who won’t be eligible for end-of-year awards due to various ailments.
Their injuries, combined with prominent names like Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Anthony Edwards being ineligible for awards, has led to increased discussion about the rule and whether it needs to be adjusted. The NBPA did just that in March, saying the rule must be “abolished or reformed” going forward.
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At least one former player believes the union is overreacting to the rule. Charles Barkley ripped the players for complaining about the 65-game rule, saying they voted in favor of it. Barkley, as he is wont to do, delivered that message in his trademark blunt style, telling players to “shut the hell up.”
This full comments read:
“I don’t think 65 games is a lot to ask. Shut the hell up. Y’all voted on that in the collective-bargaining [agreement], now y’all want to complain. If y’all weren’t sitting on your ass half the time sipping margaritas and stuff, they wouldn’t have put the 65-game threshold in there. Shut the hell up.”
Barkley is, at least, speaking from experience. During his 16-year, Hall of Fame career, Barkley played in at least 65 games in his first 12 years in the NBA. He broke down after that, hitting that threshold just once in his last four seasons in the league. Still, he was a durable and consistent player in his prime.
Given Barkley’s opinionated nature, it shouldn’t come as a shock that he has a strong take on the 65-game rule. As part of the last collective-bargaining agreement (CBA), the league and the players agreed that players must take part in at least 65 games during the regular season in order to be eligible for end-of-year awards.
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Despite the fact that the rule has been in place since 2023, it found itself as a major storyline this season thanks to the elite talent who got hurt during the regular season. Cunningham, in particular, was pushed for an All-NBA selection prior to his injury, and Dončić had just gotten himself into MVP consideration following a phenomenal stretch prior to his injury.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama nearly also missed out on end-of-season award eligibility thanks to a late rib injury. But Wembanyama was able to qualify after returning to play at least 20 minutes in Friday’s game. Wembanyama is in the running to win the MVP award after a dominant third season.
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The rule was initially put in place to ensure players took the court when healthy. In the years prior to the last CBA, that wasn’t a guarantee, as teams started resting players during back-to-back games. It led to situations where the league’s elite talent would sit out during a marquee matchup, or wouldn’t play in a big, nationally-televised game. That’s what Barkley was referencing when he mentioned players “sipping margaritas and stuff.”
It’s unclear whether the league will look to make changes to the rule during the offseason. While it has resulted in some key players missing out on end-of-year honors, no award is going to be given to the “wrong” person due to the rule.
The All-NBA team is a different matter based on how many players get selected for that honor, so perhaps that’s something the league and players can revisit during the offseason.
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